Messi bids adieu to La Albiceleste in an emotional farewell

Lionel Messi played his final game for Argentina on 6th October 2026 in an international friendly against Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. The match ended in a 3-0 win for Argentina with Messi signing off in style with a 71st minute penalty and two assists. Messi had announced his retirement from International football on 31st August 2026. The announcement came after the heartbreak of a World Cup final defeat and the painful loss of his father Jorge Messi who had been struggling with illness. 

Based on the announcement posted on his Instagram account, Messi felt he had already given everything to the National Team and the tank was empty now. Even if it hurt him a lot to make this decision, he felt it was the right time to close this chapter, and let the new players come in and take the team forward. He also mentioned that going forward he would watch, support and cheer the team as a lifelong fan. 

Lionel Messi has achieved success not just in club football with Barcelona but also cemented his place as one of the best Argentine players of all time now. He followed an incredible legacy of world class football icons like Alfredo di Stefano, Mario Kempes and Deigo Maradona and carried the hopes of a football fanatic nation for two decades until the 2022 FIFA World Cup where he finally broke the jinx of becoming a World Champion. 

While he achieved continued success with Spanish giants Barcelona winning major silverware and most Ballon d’Or titles (8), his time with the National Team wasn’t going well which also led him the announce retirement once before in June 2016 after suffering three consecutive final losses in the 2014 FIFA World Cup and two Copa América finals in 2015 and 2016. However, he reversed his decision a few months later and then went on to have a golden period with the National team, winning two Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024 and the holy grail at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, becoming a World Champion at last. 

At the most recent FIFA World Cup 2026 held in the USA, Messi almost single-handedly dragged Argentina to the final against Spain. Enroute to his third World Cup final, the Argentine genius scored eight goals and provided four assists. The 39-year-old was undeniably the best player at this World Cup although he didn’t receive the Golden Ball.

Messi competed at his sixth World Cup this year, an incredible feat as he broke and created many new records. Let’s take a look at few of these interesting stats – 

• Messi now has the most appearances at the World Cup with 34 matches. 
• Messi also has the most World Cup wins with 23 victories. 
• Messi has also played the most World Cup minutes with 2,609 minutes. 
• Messi has scored in nine consecutive World Cup games.
• Messi became the first player to score in six consecutive World Cup knockout matches. 
• Messi now has the most assists (12) at the World Cup. 
• Messi became the first player in history to start three World Cup finals. 
• Messi became the oldest outfield player at 39 years and 24 days old to feature in a World Cup final. 

(These stats have been taken from https://ballondor.com/news/posts/statistics-and-all-time-records-a-look-back-at-messis-incredible-2026-world-cup )

Messi may have been suffering from the heartbreak of a final loss but more than that it could have been the loss of his father that could have pushed him to consider retirement. Although he isn’t getting any younger, when in form, Messi is still one of the best players in the world. His performances at the 2026 World Cup showed just why he is considered as the greatest footballer of all time. 

The Argentine national team has some great talent in their ranks. The likes of Lautaro Martinez, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez and Julian Alvarez are already experienced players with a World Cup medal to their names. Success begets success and due to the top performances at the World Cups and the Copa América, Argentina is now witnessing an influx of talented youth players as well. Franco Mastantuono, Claudio Echeverri, Nico Paz and Ian Subiabre are some of the names that could become future stars with the national team. 

Messi’s influence isn’t limited to club football or his national team. Some players are so special that they transcend all boundaries and earn the admiration and adulation of everyone around – Lionel Messi has been that kind of a player. Although he knows that he can play at the highest level for a few more years, he doesn’t want to delay someone else’s progress and that is the sign of greatness. 

As Messi bids adieu to international football, a lot of rival teams and their fans will breathe a huge sigh of relief. From a football perspective though, it’s a massive loss for Argentine football and their fans but also world football in general. Messi would definitely feel at peace as he departs international football with numerous records to his name and having achieved his dream of becoming a World Champion. Messi ends his Argentina journey with 208 appearances, 126 international goals and 70 international assists. 

While one chapter is drawing to a close, another one still remains. He will continue in the MLS for Inter Miami so we can still watch the magician at play for a few more years before he hangs up his boots. 

What begins must always come to an end, however painful it may be. Perhaps, rather than feeling sadness, we should be grateful that we were fortunate enough to witness one of the greatest footballers of all time at the peak of his powers—mesmerizing us with his brilliance, terrorizing opposition defences and, quite simply, taking our breath away with beautiful football. 

Congratulations, Lionel Messi on an incredible career with the national team and beyond. We will forever remember the heartbreaks, the setbacks, the comebacks, and, most of all, the incredible victories that made your journey so unforgettable.